In 2 weeks' time, the Council of the EU is expected to approve implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Singapore.
Implementation of the FTA, which was approved by MEPs last February (see EUROPE 12193/1), was conditional on Singapore establishing a system for the registering geographical indications (GIs).
On Wednesday, 23 October, Member States' ambassadors approved the protection mechanism drawn up by Singapore, which was finalised at the end of August (see EUROPE 12227/35), thus removing the last obstacle to implementation.
At their next meeting on 8 November, EU ministers will have the opportunity to adopt their final decision and the agreement will be implemented.
This system for registering geographical indications was one of the requests made by Europe and will allow approximately 190 GIs for wines, spirits and certain agricultural products to benefit from a level of protection equivalent to the level in the EU (see EUROPE 12193/1).
The protection of geographical indications in EU free trade agreements is one of the European agri-food sector’s key offensive interests (see also other news).
The strategy has been condemned by Washington, which is committed to opposing it and circumventing European influence in this area (see EUROPE 12243/2). (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)